as in blushing
to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment)
his face reddened when she flashed him a dazzling smile
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Recent Examples of reddening
His huddles at times resemble a family Sunday supper after the conversation turns to politics – everyone yelling, nobody listening, Izzo’s face reddening and a whiteboard left broken, the innocent victim of all the arguing (though they are rumored to be pre-cut to avoid splintering).
—
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Warning signs include yellowing within a week of infestation, purpling or reddening of leaves, stunting despite adequate moisture, weakening root systems and patchy areas of thinning or dead grass.
—Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Angine desperately returns to the store, again and again, to get her fix from Malaise, her face reddening from blood just below the surface, a canvas of her awakened desire.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
The front lawn falls steeply away from the house and on down to the fence, a garden overgrown with reddening watsonias.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Visible light has been shown to trigger erythema, or skin reddening, in lighter skin.
—Andrea Muraskin, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Warning signs include yellowing within a week of infestation, purpling or reddening of leaves, stunting despite adequate moisture, weakening root systems and patchy areas of thinning or dead grass.
—Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Angine desperately returns to the store, again and again, to get her fix from Malaise, her face reddening from blood just below the surface, a canvas of her awakened desire.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
The front lawn falls steeply away from the house and on down to the fence, a garden overgrown with reddening watsonias.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Visible light has been shown to trigger erythema, or skin reddening, in lighter skin.
—Andrea Muraskin, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reddening
Verb
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The blushing singer was snapped getting a sweet smooch on the cheek from her big brother while backstage.—
John Russell,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
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Moving within a few short years from blushing infatuation to friendship to committed partnership, these two will weather some of life’s harshest storms.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
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This contains a sink, a flushing toilet, and a bathtub/shower (not pictured), which is still a rare luxury in a tiny house.—
Adam Williams
May 18,
New Atlas,
18 May 2026
-
Symptoms include flushing, itching, hives, stomach pain, diarrhea, brain fog, bone pain, and sometimes severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis.—
Suchandrima Bhowmik,
Health,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
With more than 2,000 glowing five-star reviews, this streamlined shirt is destined to become your newest wardrobe staple.—
Kate Donovan,
Southern Living,
18 May 2026
-
Long before glowing storefronts, crowded shopping malls, and overnight deliveries became the norm, everyday commerce in America moved at a much slower, more intimate pace.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reddening. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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